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A Tattoo To Symbolize The New Me

Rebecca92

By Rebecca92
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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Rebecca92 Apprentice
Rebecca92
Posted

Being diagnosed was a life changing moment for me and I want to get a tattoo to symbolize getting better and feeling better. I have no idea what to get or where I was thinking maybe getting it somewhere on my back or side. Any ideas?

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captaincrab55 Collaborator
captaincrab55
Posted

I see so many people wearing wrist bands for different causes... I always wondered why they didn't just get it inked on??? I do understand some people not wanting ink, but figured someone would do it... So, maybe a Celiac wrist band???

MJ-S Contributor
MJ-S
Posted

You could do the gluten-free logo (gluten-free with a circle around it). The downside might be if the logo changes over the years (new FDA regulations, etc.) then it could look outdated. Or retro.

eatmeat4good Enthusiast
eatmeat4good
Posted

A Phoenix rising up from a pile of wheat...this is what my son suggested when the question of a symbolic tattoo for Celiacs came up about a year ago. I thought it was perfect.

pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

I think tats are beautiful; however, you may want to be aware they are considered autoimmune triggers. On the other hand, if you're Celiac you've already been "triggered".

mbrookes Community Regular
mbrookes
Posted

Before you get a tatto, remember it is permanant. How will it look when you are 65? Probably all wrinkled and sagging. Sure you want that?

pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

My Mom would take offense to that! Her seahorse is still pretty!

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angel9165 Newbie
angel9165
Posted

I actually did get a tattoo after my diagnoses. Some would question how relative it is but for me, since it was a colonoscopy that finally led to the diagnoses, it seemed to fit. I will let you figure out where I got it but it is a circle with the line through it in the middle is an arrow pointing down (to mean, exit only). Now of course it will be 9 years before the GI doc does another colonoscopy so he will get to see that (hopefully once I'm under and they roll me over..lol) but my dermatologist got a kick out of it when she did my head to toe skin check last month. :P I guess if, as I age, it sags, nobody but the person who sees me naked will know. ;)

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

I think tats are beautiful; however, you may want to be aware they are considered autoimmune triggers. On the other hand, if you're Celiac you've already been "triggered".

Yeah, it's not recommended for folks with autoimmunity to get tattoos. They're kind of scary because there is essentially no FDA regulation on the inks. We're more prone to sensitivity and allergy than folks with normal immune systems and once the ink is in your skin there's almost no way to get rid of it. I wanted a tat about ten years ago, even had drawn my artwork, but red reaction is so common I decided not to do it.

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That said, if you get one anyway I love the phoenix idea!

Rebecca92 Apprentice
Rebecca92
Posted
  • Author

A Phoenix rising up from a pile of wheat...this is what my son suggested when the question of a symbolic tattoo for Celiacs came up about a year ago. I thought it was perfect.

I absolutely love that idea! I think that is what I'm going to go with. I know that all tattoos sag with age but I would never get a tattoo that I can't cover up if I need to.

eatmeat4good Enthusiast
eatmeat4good
Posted

I would be so thrilled if you post a picture of it if indeed you do decide to get that tattoo!!!

My son will be thrilled too!

I might even get us both tattooed if you come up with a pretty one!

Hahahaha

You made my day!

bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

I just looked it up, and while there is no wheat in tatoo inks, there is enough other stuff I would never want put in my body to keep me from ever getting one. Here is the info:

In the United States, tattoo inks are subject to regulation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as cosmetics and color additives.[2] The FDA and medical practitioners have noted that many ink pigments used in tattoos are

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

I absolutely love that idea! I think that is what I'm going to go with. I know that all tattoos sag with age but I would never get a tattoo that I can't cover up if I need to.

I like that idea also. Do keep in mind that you don't want red in the tat as that is the color that more folks will react to. I have multiple tattoos and don't regret a single one. I have mine in areas that are easy to cover and have a bit of 'meat'. Upper arms, thigh or butt are good places that are the least painful. Areas over bone like the inside of the shoulder blade, ankles, wrist etc are more painful. Go to a good artist and have them do at least a couple of drawings of the design for you to look at so you know they are actually an artist. The artist will use a transfer process to put the design on before inking so do get a good look at that before they begin. Look the shop over to make sure it is clean, make sure the artist uses new needles on you and nonpowdered gloves. Be aware that they do hurt. You will have 7 to 10 needles going into your skin at a high rate of speed. The outline will hurt the most and if you have to use 2 or more sessions for the addition of color make sure you give it a good month or two between sessions. A good tat is also VERY expensive. Expect to pay at least $250 and up for one. If you are getting a bargain tattoo you will regret it. Give it a great deal of thought as the only way to remove them is by laser and that will leave a scar and is a very painful process.

Hungrylady Rookie
Hungrylady
Posted

I love the idea of celebrating the life changing moment. I have had my head down not paying attention to how drastically my life has improved! I think anything with a renewal touch would be good. A re-birth if you will. I feel like a million bucks today and all of us know how to appreciate days like that. When you're sick you feel worn out, old, dead, unable to feel alive. Once we've been gluten-free you feel free, alive, sometimes even electricfied. If I had to decide I might do a ligthening bolt into a hand or something that gives the thought of life. Maybe a bolt into the fountain of youth, lol.

I hope everyone continues to feel good and improve, live life and enojy it every day. Best of luck finding a tat, let us know how it turns out.

Poppi Enthusiast
Poppi
Posted

Before you get a tatto, remember it is permanant. How will it look when you are 65? Probably all wrinkled and sagging. Sure you want that?

All of me is going to sag. Since my saggy body is unlikely to be on public display when I'm in my old age I don't think a few extra decorations are going to matter much. All my tattoos (already done and planned for the future) mean something special to me. They have marked important events in my life. The births of my children (I have a tattoo for each of them), the loss of 3 unborn babies, marriage, life changes ... I love that my skin is becoming a visual story of my life. I think I'll cherish it just as much when I'm 80.

GFreeMO Proficient
GFreeMO
Posted

A Phoenix rising up from a pile of wheat...this is what my son suggested when the question of a symbolic tattoo for Celiacs came up about a year ago. I thought it was perfect.

That is a great idea! I love this. (I don't have a tattoo or want one but this is a great way to symbolize celiac)

Rebecca92 Apprentice
Rebecca92
Posted
  • Author

Thank you all for your replys, I'm going to find a good artist to draw me something out. This isn't my first tattoo, I've been wanting another one for a while but just wasn't sure what to get. I didn't want to just get something random I wanted something that had meaning behind it. and thanks for all your safety concerns, no worries there though I will only go to the best, most professional tattoo parlor I can find (since its going to be there for the rest of my life!) I can't wait to get it drawn out! I'm so excited!

Reba32 Rookie
Reba32
Posted

I've often thought of getting the word "Celiac" tattoo'd on the inside of my wrist as a sort of medic-alert bracelet. I might add the wheat with the slash through it symbol as well. Just in case I am ever hospitalized and they stick a feeding tube down my nose. Those feeding fluids are not gluten free I learned! My Mum was in hospital on a vent for 2 weeks and I looked at the label on the can.

I've also thought of putting a DNR on my wrist as well after seeing my Mum on the vent for 2 weeks!

pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

I've often thought of getting the word "Celiac" tattoo'd on the inside of my wrist as a sort of medic-alert bracelet. I might add the wheat with the slash through it symbol as well. Just in case I am ever hospitalized and they stick a feeding tube down my nose. Those feeding fluids are not gluten free I learned! My Mum was in hospital on a vent for 2 weeks and I looked at the label on the can.

I've also thought of putting a DNR on my wrist as well after seeing my Mum on the vent for 2 weeks!

I signed up through Medic Alert. I wear a bracelet now when I'm out. If I ever get the DH figured out (who am I kidding, it's DH) I'll need a new one. Bracelet is getting crowded.

I like their service because you have a profile where you can update info, phone numbers, etc.

zus888 Contributor
zus888
Posted

Love the idea. I just got my first tatt last year for my 40th birthday. I LOVE it. It's on the inside of my forearm. It's a very meaningful tattoo to me. I'm planning on getting another very soon.

As for the old and wrinkly. If we're lucky, we'll all get to that point. I had given up hope in ever reaching a point of getting old and wrinkly, so if it happens, then I'll be grateful, and how my tatt looks will be the last thing on my mind. As one person put it: I'll be as old and wrinkly as you, but I'll just be more interesting to look at! LOL! I like that perspective, even if I don't have a lot of tattoos.

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Thank you all for your replys, I'm going to find a good artist to draw me something out. This isn't my first tattoo, I've been wanting another one for a while but just wasn't sure what to get. I didn't want to just get something random I wanted something that had meaning behind it. and thanks for all your safety concerns, no worries there though I will only go to the best, most professional tattoo parlor I can find (since its going to be there for the rest of my life!) I can't wait to get it drawn out! I'm so excited!

I'm excited for you too! Glad to hear you're not sensitive to the ink. You'll have to post the artwork for us when you get it drawn. B)

moose07 Apprentice
moose07
Posted

I've often thought of getting the word "Celiac" tattoo'd on the inside of my wrist as a sort of medic-alert bracelet. I might add the wheat with the slash through it symbol as well. Just in case I am ever hospitalized and they stick a feeding tube down my nose. Those feeding fluids are not gluten free I learned! My Mum was in hospital on a vent for 2 weeks and I looked at the label on the can.

I've also thought of putting a DNR on my wrist as well after seeing my Mum on the vent for 2 weeks!

Just so you know getting DNR tattooed on your body does not make it necessarily make it legal. My brother's friend had it tattooed across his chest however never went through the legal process to actually get a DNR. So his tattoo was nothing to the doctors when he needed to be resuscitated. His family at first chose to keep him alive.

In regards to the OP on where to get your tattoo. I don't recommend the rib cage, it hurts a lot! Everyone said a foot tattoo would hurt the most but that was nothing compared to my rib cage.

Reba32 Rookie
Reba32
Posted

yes, I am aware. My Uncle is a lawyer and has a standard "living will" available to all of us should we choose it. And all of my family is aware of my choice.

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